Trending Now

You are here

Meat product with ammonia hydroxide causes concern

Recent published reports indicate the Elk County Catholic School System is among 14 school districts in the region which have purchased a controversial beef product through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The "lean finely textured beef " (LFTB) is on a federally approved list of items suitable for consumption in schools. It is made up of about 65 percent fat. The product is created when manufacturers use scrap pieces of meat which are ground up and treated with ammonia hydroxide before being frozen. Up to 15 percent of that mixture is then added to beef products.